Key Moments:
- The Pan-Nordic Gambling Study (PANG) is set to survey 150,000 individuals aged 18 to 30 across Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.
- Participating organizations include public health agencies, regulators, and academic institutions from all five Nordic countries.
- The project aims to deliver comparable cross-country data, with results scheduled for release in spring 2026.
Coordinated Approach to Understanding Gambling in the Nordics
A major research undertaking is underway in the Nordics, targeting a comprehensive examination of young adult gambling behavior in 2025. The Swedish Public Health Agency has launched the Pan-Nordic Gambling Study (PANG), planning to collect input from 150,000 participants aged between 18 and 30 from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. Each nation will provide 30,000 responses, establishing one of the largest collaborative gambling studies ever organized in the region.
The main objective is to create consistent and comparable data across all five countries. Previously, differences in research tools and measurement methods limited the ability to identify universal patterns. This unified strategy promises more reliable cross-border insights into gambling trends.
Collaborative Effort Among Regulators, Health Agencies, and Academia
The initiative brings together a wide spectrum of partners. Contributors include the Swedish Public Health Agency, the Swedish Gambling Authority, the Danish Gambling Authority, Aalborg University, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the University of Iceland, the Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority, and the University of Bergen. This mix of regulatory, public health, and academic bodies ensures both practical supervision and rigorous analysis.
Responses will be gathered digitally, streamlining the processing of data and enabling real-time trend analysis across the region.
Focus on Young Adults Aged 18 to 30
The research targets young adults, a demographic identified as rapidly shifting its gambling habits in comparison to older generations. The widespread use of digital gambling, including online casino offerings and sports betting applications, has prompted a need for improved understanding before new public health policies are crafted. Authorities are particularly interested in factors such as frequency of play, selected products, spending levels, and indicators of risky behavior. This foundation will assist governments in evaluating the effectiveness of current regulations and harm prevention initiatives.
Timeline and Policy Impact
The results of the Pan-Nordic Gambling Study are planned for publication in spring 2026. Policymakers anticipate that the findings will inform discussions in legislative forums, the deployment of safer gambling tools, and the development of long-term health strategies throughout the Nordics. The initiative demonstrates a growing consensus on the need for coordinated research to grasp the evolving landscape of young adult gambling in the region.
| Country | Expected Responses |
|---|---|
| Iceland | 30,000 |
| Norway | 30,000 |
| Sweden | 30,000 |
| Finland | 30,000 |
| Denmark | 30,000 |
- Author
Daniel Williams
